Knitting machine for manufacture of elastic strips or pieces



Jan. 19, 1937.

N. o. BRANTLY KNITTING MACHINE- FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fln/y afimmf] ATTOIKNEY.

19, 1937. N. Q'BRANTLY 2,037,900

KNITTJING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jn. 15, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Aim/Q5! Q firamgiy ATTORNEY.

Jan. 19, 1937.

N. o. BRANTLY KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OE ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jan. 15; 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTOR 0, firaizzlly' ATTORNEY.

Jan. 19, 1937. IN. 0. BRANTLY I 5 I KNITTING MAcHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS on PIECES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY.

Jan. 19, 1937. N. o. BRANTLY 2,067,900

KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS 0R PIECES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. I9, 1937.

Filed Jan. 15, 1935 N. o. BR'ANTLY KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE, OF ELASTIC STRIPS on PIECES 1o Sheets-Sheet e 69V w 1 J6 I 57 4 0 H INVENTOR/ v 6M5 I2 I a NJ J 0 my ATTORNEY.

J. 19, 1937. N. o. BRANTLY KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 15, 1935 m a w INVENTOR.

Mwy dill ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1937. N BRANTLY 2,067,900

KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jan. 19:55 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 77 5A? @Jfl INVENTOR.

Jan. 19, 1937. N. o. BRANTLY 2,067,900 KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 a vs ii A ATTORNEY.

Jan. 19, 1937. M BRANTLY 2,067,900

KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS OR PIECES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 1O Sheets-Sheet 10' ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 srArss KNITTING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC STRIPS R PKECES Application January I5, 1935, Serial No. 1,914

This invention relates to an improved type of knitting machine for making what is commonly referred to in the surgical fabrics art'as hand knit" i. e. rectangular or fashioned pieces or 5 swatches of elastic fabric from which are manufactured corsets, girdles, surgical bandages, etc.

The name hand knit is derived from the fact" that heretofore these elastic swatches have been made exclusively on hand frames wherein all the knitting and attending operations are performed manually, which isconducive of low rate of production and high cost of manufacture.

The hand knit". swatches usually employ, throughout the body of the strip, a form of knitting known as the Diamond stitch, produced by tucking in alternate wales and courses. while the borders which extend coursewise along the opposite edges respectively of the strip are composed of plain stitches.

In both the body and border areas and incorporated in each or any desired number oi the successively knit courses of stitches are strands of rubber, in either a bare or covered state depending upon the use to which the fabric is to be put.

The present invention concerns the general type of knitting machine and fabric above noted and the object of the present invention is to, construct the machine in such a manner that the knitting and attending operations necessary to produce the fabric will each and all be performed automatically in proper sequence and in properly tuned relation one to another, whereby the machine will knit continuously without manual operations excepting the shifting of a single lever to change the knitting from the diamond stitch in the body to the plain stitch in the borders, and vice versa, at predetermined times depending desired.

The construction of the fabric and the machine and the operation of the machine will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had- 55 In the drawinss:

upon the relative widths of the body and borders Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of one end of the improved type-of knitting machine for the manufacture of elastic strips or pieces.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the opposite end of the machine, Figures 1 and 2 to 5 be read in order to obtain a lull and complete aspect of the entire machine.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the end of the machine shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the end of m the machine shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 5a is a detail view of-one of the border cams shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a vertical-sectional View on line t-d of Figure 2.

Figure 6a is a view in elevation of one of the border cams shown in Figure 6. I

Figure 7 is a sectional view on. line 'i-'l of Figure 1.

Figure 7a, is a view in elevation of another of the border cams shown in Figure '7.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 8a. is a view in elevation of another of said border cams.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view 1-8 of Figure l.

Figure 9a is a view in elevation of still another border cam.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on line iii-it of Figure 1.

Figure 10a is a view in elevation of a border cam shown in Figure 10.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on line il--H of Figure 1 showing the remaining came one behind. the other.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on line on line.

behind the other as viewed from the left hand end of the machine.

Figure 13 is a plan face view of the fabric showing the body and border stitches of the fabric.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the relationship. between a series of sinkers and a series of bearded needles of the machine in the first step of forming the com of diamond stitches.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view which shows theposition of the knitting thread on the needles as .a result of the action of the jack sinkers in Figure 14.

Figure 16 1s a diagrammatic perspective view ill-42 of Figure 1 showing six of the cams one 49 I showing a second step in the stitch i. e. the divid- Figure 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the fifth step i. e. the raising of the held loops and the moving of the elastic-strip over the beards of the needles.

Figure 20. is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the sixth step i. e. the holding of the intermediate alternate loops during the casting of the intermediate loops.

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the seventh step in the stitch i. e. the movement of the newly formed and held stitches to the beard bearing position on the needles and the retraction of the covering points for laying of the knitting thread for the next course.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the first step in the formation of the stitch used in the border of the strip or piece.

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the second step in the stitch forming the border.

Figure 24 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the third step in the formation of the stitch used in the border.

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the fourth step in the making of the border stitch.

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the fifth step in constructing a stitch of the border of the strip or piece.

In order that the operations of the machine may be more readily understood the fabric'swatch diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 13 will be first described. The swatch comprises a body A and a border B at each edge thereof in a direction coursewise of the fabric., The body A may be composed of any desired number of successive interlooped body courses a and any desired number of border courses b, depending upon the width of the strip desired. The length of the strip or swatch may be anything desired equal to or less than the width of the full complement of needles in the machine. The number of 'needles employed corresponds with the number of wales c in the fabric.

The body fabric A consists 01' a predetermined number of courses of tuck stitches d, which are I formed by holding the loops e of alternate Wales- 0, in alternate courses a and casting them with the loops ,1 of the next'succeeding courses. The border 13 is composed of plain stitches g in each course b and each wale c. v

In each'course a and b isanelastic strand X i which in the case of the courses of tuck stitches course this arrangement is reversed.

In the borders B the elastic strands or wefts X pass under the limbs of the loops in one Wale and over the limbs of the loops in the next Wale in each and all of the courses b, uniformly instead of in the staggered relation in the courses and wales'as in the body A.

As shown in Figure 13 all the stitch loops are composed of a relatively non-elastic fibrous thread T. In forming the diamond stitches d. of the body A the thread T is'laid across the horizontally. disposed fixed needles as shown in Figure 14 and is sunk between alternate pairs of needles'by jack sinkers 2, leaving the thread T on the needles in the form shown in Figure 15. Lead sinkers 3, operating between the jack sinkers 2,

are then moved downwardly in the spaces be-= tween the needles not separated by jack sinkers and at the same time the jack sinkers 2 are raised slightly. This effects a dividing of the thread T uniformly between the needles, as shown in Figure 16.

The crimped thread T is then moved longitudinally outward along the shanks la of the needles and under the beards l b thereof up into the points lc, as clearly shown in Figure 17, by the jack and lead sinkers rocking outwardly in unison with the crimped thread T held in the crotches 4 of the sinkers 2 and 3 between the short The sinkers 2 and 3 then rise leaving the crimped thread T hanging in the points lc of the needles as clearly shown in Figure 1'7.

Cover points I I then move inwardly above the intermediate needles on which the single loops e are being held and then descend over the beards of these needles, closing them while a presser blade l2 moves in and downwardly and closes the beards of the alternate needles having the two loops e and f thereon.

The sinkers 2 and 3 then rock outwardly and move all the loops e, ;f on all the needles, out wardly 'on the needles to a. beard point clearing position as shown in Figure 18. The presser blade I2 then recedes and the cover points H rise after which the elastic strand :1: is laid on the tops of the-needle beards, in front of the sinkers 2 and3, the front edges ill of which are then in a position outwardly beyond the points Id of the needle beards b so that the elastic strand \will not get under the beards of the needles. The relative positions of the elastic strand, the needle beards and the cover points at this time are clearly shown in Figure 19.

The sinkers 2 and 3 then rock outwardly, casting the loops e, f, ofi'the alternate needles and pulling a new loop e through each pair of held loops e, f and also pulling a new loop f through each of the single loops e then held in raised position by the cover points l, the elastic strand X falling behind the newly formed loops e on the alternate needles, where said elastic strand rests in front of the loops e held on cover points I land lies on top of and behind the loops f which'were pulled through the loops e on the points H, as shown in Figure 20.

The cover points ll then descend and again close the beards of the needles over which they are respectively positioned whereupon the fabric A is moved inwardly on the needles by backward rocking of the sinkers 2 and 3 until the loops e on the points H are repositioned on the needles together with the new loops j which were previously drawn through these same home, as clearly shown in Figure 21.

- The cover points N then move outwardly and are shifted laterally into line with what were the intermediate needles. I

The machine is then ready for the laying of the fibrous thread for the next course and the operations just described are repeated. This lateral shogging of the cover points ll first to the right and then back again-to the left for succeeding courses produces the diamond effect shown in Figure 13.

After a desired munber of courses of the diamond or tuck stitches d have been produced the machine is operated to produce a predetermined number of courses of plain stitches for the sec-' ond border bf one strip and the first border of the next'strip, it being noted that the strips are formed continuously with body areas alternating with border areas after which the strips are split apart by cutting coursewise through the center of. the border areas which provides a border on each of the two opposite edges of each strip.

Figure 22 illustrates the first step in the formationof the first course of plain stitches in thethread is laid on the needles, sunk around each needle and the crimped thread moved out to the points of the needles the presser blade |2 then rocks backward and' closes the beards of the needles whilethe fabric is moved forward on the needles until the loops e and 1 pass over the points Id of the needle beards and rest on top of the beards lb, whereupon the presser blade recedes and the loops e and f are moved out and cast over the points lc of the needles, which draws the new loops g through the loops e and f to form the first course of plain stitches in the border area, as

shown in Figure 23.

The fabric is then moved backwardly along the needles until'the newly formed loops 9 are in the beard clearing position shown in .Figure 24.

The cover points then move in and over alternate needles, then descend and close the beards of the-covered needles, whereupon the fabric is moved forwardly on the needles until the alternate loops g slip onto the cover points, the intermediate loops g moving under the beards of the needles on which they are hanging as clearly shown in Figure 25.

' The cover points then rise and lift the loops 9 held thereon until the cover points are clear of the needle beards, whereuponthe elastic thread h is fed a'cross the needles on top of the beards thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 26.

'The sinkers 2 and 3 then move forward and kick the elastic thread over the points of the needles, to a position behind the loops g which are held under the beards of the intermediate needles and in front of the alternate loops g which are still held on the cover points H.

'The cover points then return their loops g'to the needles for the formation of the second course of plain stitches in the border area B.

The operations just described are repeated for each course I; of plain stitches in the border area 1B and after the desired number of courses are proof the fabric and the knitting operations by which the fabric is composed the following description will be devoted to the mechanism by which the above noted movements of the sinkers, cover points, thread layers and presser blade are effected.

' As shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive the needles. I are leaded in pairs in the usual manner and the leads 20 are secured in a cross bar 2| by a locking bar 22 through tightening screws 23.

The needle bar 2| is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the machine'which comprises lower cross beams 25 and 26 from which extend vertical end posts 2'! and 28 on the top ends of which are transverse beams 29 which afford the support for the needle bar 2|.

Spaced above and parallel to the cross beams 25 and 26 respectively and carried by and between the end posts 21 and 28 are cross beams 30.

Secured to the transverse beams 29 are vertical standards 3| to which are secured cross bars 32 and. 33 respectively. Pivotally mounted in the upper ends of the standards 3|, 3| are the trimn ions 34, 34 of a horizontal U shaped frame 25. which controls the vertical movements of the sinkers, both lead and jack, under predetermined conditions.

The leads 36 of the lead sinkers 3 are mounted in a horizontal bar 31 to which they are secured by a locking bar 38 through and by bolts 39.

The lower ends of the blades ll! of the lead sinkers are mounted in a horizontal bar slot-'- ted at 4| to receive the sinkers. The lower ends of the sinker blades are maintained in the slots 4| of the bar 40 by a bar 42 secured in any suitable manner to the bar 40.

The bars 31 and 40 are secured together rigidly by side bars 43 and 44, see Figures 1 and 2 respectively. These end bars 43 and 44 are'pivoted at 45 to the side arms 46 of the horizontal U shaped frame 35.

The side arms 46-46 of the frame 35 are connected by across bar 4'l and a parallel bar 48.

frame arm 43 is a fixed bracket 50 between which I sion spring 5|. which tends at all times to raise the swinging frame 35 and the sinker carrying frame composed of the bars 31, 40 and end bars 43 and 44.

Upward movementof the swinging frame 35..i's limited under certain conditions by the side arms 46, 46 engaging the lower endsof limit studs 52 which are carried by vertical standards 53 which project upwardly from the needle bar 2| at opposite ends respectively thereof. Under other circumstances the upward movement of the swinging frame 35 and the sinker frame sup- -ported thereby is limited by shoulders 54 on the sinker frame engaging under hooks 55 carried by and projecting forwardly from the underside of the needle bar-2i.

' 4 Vertical movements of the swinging and sinker frame against the lifting action of the spring fii is effected during the formation of the body areas I A of the fabric by earns 51 and 58, said cams 51 and 58 being secured in immediately adjacent side by side relation to each other on the main cam shaft 68 of the machine. i

The main cam shaft 68 is mounted for rotary and axial sliding movement in suitable bearings 6|, 6| carried by the rigid main frame of the machine.

The motion of the cams 51 and 58 is transmitted to the sinker frame by a lever 62 (see Fig. 7) which is pivoted at 63 to a suitable rigid part of the main frame of the machine. The free end of the lever 62 is connected by a link 64 to a depending lug 65 secured to the lower bar 48 of the sinker frame.

Forward rocking movement of the sinker frame is effected by a spring 66 which encircles a rod 61 the forward end of which is secured. to the lug 65 of the sinker frame while its rear end is freely slidable in a strap 68 which depends from the cross bar 32. The pressure exerted by the spring 66 on the sinker frame by an adjustable abutment 68 threaded on the rod 61 increases 'or decreases the action of the sinker frame and the frame 35.

Rearward rocking movement of the sinker frame against the action of the spring 66 is effected during the knitting of the body areas A, by a cam'18 (see Fig. 10) in the main cam shaft 68,and during the knitting of the border areas B, by a cam 1I secured to the cam shaft 68 in immediately adjacent relation to the cam 18.

The earns 18 and H apply motion to the sinker frame through a bell crank lever 12 which is pivoted at 13 to a fixed-part of the machine. The one arm 14 of the bell crank lever 12 carries a cam follower 15 while thesecond arm 16 of the bell crank lever is connected by a link. 11 to a lever arm 18 which is secured to and projects vertically from and above the pivots of the sinker frame.

The jack sinkers 2 are pivotally connected ats their upper ends to the forward ends of jack levers 88, as indicated at 18. The jack levers 88 are mounted for-rocking movement in the slots of a comb-like upper side of a cross beam 8| which is mounted at its opposite ends on end plates 82 of a carriage 83.

The rear-ends of the jack levers 88 are beveled to provide relatively pointed ends 84 which are engaged by and in sockets formed in the upper ends of flat vertically extending jack returning springs 86. The jack springs 86 are rigidly mounted at their lower ends in a cross beam 81 secured by brackets 88 to the end members of the main frame'of the machine.

The carriage 83 is provided with traction wheels 88 which ride on the upper surfaces of the end beams 28, 28 respectively and is pivotally connected by a link 88 (see Fig. 3) to the lower end of a lever 8|. The lever 8i is pivoted at 82 about the same pivot which connects the right side member 44 of the sinker frame with the right side arm 46 of the swinging frame '35.

The upper end of the lever 8| is connected by positioned immediately adjacent the cam 88, during the formation of the stitches g of the border fabric B.

Overlying and spaced above the rear ends of the sinker jack levers 88 is a catch or leveling bar I8I which, when the jack levers are released from the latch springs 86 engage the under side of the leveling bar IN and retain the jack sinker 2 in coinciding relation to the lead sinkers 3.

The leveling bar I8I is rigidly secured-.to the rear ends of rigid arms I82 which arerigidly mounted on the backs of the end pieces 43 and 44 of the sinker frame so that when'the' jack levers 88 are released from the latch spring 86 the jack sinkers 2 and lead sinkers 3 move in unison.

The jack levers 88 are released from'the latch springs 86, during the laying of the fibrous thread T to the, needles, by a slur cock I83 which is adapted to traverse the full complement of sinker ,levers '88 in timed relation with the needle traversing movements of the thread layer I85.

The mechanism for effecting the needle and jack lever traversing movements of the thread guide I85 and slur cock I82 respectively will be fully disclosed hereinafter. I

The slur cock I83 rides on a rail I84 which parallels the lever supporting comb 8I and like the comb 8| is supported at its opposite ends on and by the end plates 82 of the carriage 83.

The bell crank levers 16 and 84 which control the forward and rearward movements 01' the sinker frame and carriage respectively through the greater portion of their cycles of movement move in unison to .retain the jack and lead sinkers in coinciding relation to each other at all times excepting duringthe last part of the cycle, at

which time the'lever 84 which controls the movethe sinker frame whereby the pointed ends 84 of the sinker jack levers 88 are moved into contact with the jack springs 86.

At the same time the sinker frame is lowered and with it is lowered the leveling bar I8I whereby the pointed ends 84 of the jack levers 88 are positioned in the recesses 85 of the springs 86 ready for the next traversing movement of the slur cock I82. v

In order to provide clearance for the slur cook the sinker frame rises and carries the leveling bar I8I upwardly clear of and to a relatively spaced position above the jack levers 88.

The presser blade I2 extends across the full complement of needles I and is carried by a cross bar I86 which is secured at its opposite ends respectively to a pair of levers I81, I 81 which are provided with arched members I88, I88 respectively.

The levers I81, I81 are pivoted at I88, I88 to brackets I I8, II8 respectively secured to the end frame members 28, 28. Carried by and rigidly secured at its opposite ends in bearings III, I I I on the arched members I88 of the levers I81 is a cross rod H2, intermediate the ends of which is positioned and secured a lever II3 by which the presser blade is operated through a link H4 and lever II5 from a cam I I6 during the formation .of the stitches d of the body fabric A or from a cam'- II1 during the formation of the border ,stitches g.

The cams II 6 and II1 are secured to the main cam shaft 68 in immediately adjacent relation ship to each other.

The cam follower I I 8 is held in contact with the cam I I6 or II1 as the case may be, by a spring II8 which encircles a rod 128, one end of which is The shaft I21 is mounted for rotary and axial" collar I33 which is secured to the shaft I21 andwhen in this position the points II are aligned with alternate needles I.

The point bar I25 is shogged in the opposite,-

rock it in one direction about its pivot I2I, which A rigidly secured to the point bar I25 and is slotted is secured to a fixed portion of the machine.

The cover points II are leaded in pairs and the leads I22 thereof are rigidly secured in a floating cross bar I25 by'a clamp bar I24 secured to the cross bar I25'by bolts I23.

The point bar I25 is supported and operated inwardly and outwardly relative to the needles by levers I26, which are secured to a cross shaft I21, adjacent the opposite ends of the point bar sliding movements in bearings I26, I28 secured respectively to the end frame members 28, 28;

Secured to the shaft I 21 is a lever I26 which is provided with a cam follower I36 arranged to ride on a cam I3I during the formation of the body fabric A and on a cam I32 during the formation of the border fabric B, said cams being rigidly secured to the cam shaft 66 in laterally adjacent relation to each other.

The upper ends of the levers I26 are provided with short shafts I32, I32 which are secured in the levers and project laterally from each side of each lever I26. The'projecting 'p'ortionsof the short shafts I32 are mounted for oscillatory andv bar I25 to a neutral position with respect to the levers I26, I26. v

The point bar I25 is positioned between guides I36, I36 respectively-carried by the end frames of the machine. The point bar is shogged longitudinally in one direction into engagement with one of the guides I36 by a spring I31 which encircles the shaft I21 between the hearing I 28 at the left side of the machine (seeFig. 1) and a direction, to align the points II with the intermediate'needles, by a lateral thrust disc cam I 33 (see Fig.2) which is secured to a shaft I19. A cam follower I46 which. is' rotatably mounted on the end of the shaft I21 rides the-side face of the disc cam and gives the point shaft I21 an axial .movement of approximately three needles, however, the guides I36, I 36 are so set with respect to the length of the point bar 25 that the said point bar is permitted to shog only to the extent of 'one needle spacing. The springs I35, I35 are and lower the points relative to the needles is provided during the formation of the body stitches, by a cam, I45 (see Fig. 6) and during the .formation of the border stitches by a cam I26 may be, is transmitted to the point bar by a lever I41 which is loosely mounted on the shaft I21 and is provided with a forwardly extending arm I48 which is connected by alink I49 to a forwardly extending arm I56. The arm I56 is to the needles Ias desired.

The thread guide I65 for the fibrous thread T is carried by a block I52 which is adapted to slide and pivot on a cross rod I53 secured at its opposite ends to the standards 53, 53. The guide I65'includes a horizontally extending portion I54 which rides on the upper surface of a cross track I55 also secured-at its opposite ends to the standards 53, 53. Adjacent the opposite ends of the track I55 the said track is recessed as indicated at I56, I56 in Figures 1 and 2 respectively, which, when the guide I65 passes beyond the opposite ends of the needle bank, permits the guide to dropto a position below the needles to pull the thread T down firmly in a the end needles and to provide clearance for the thread guide X to the needles as will be de-' scribed later.

The thread guidewhich lays the elastic thread or strand X to the needles is indicated at I66. in Figure 3. The guide I66 is carried by a block I6I which is slidably mounted on a pair of parallel cross rods I62, I62 supported at their opposite ends in brackets I63, I63 which are secured to the guide arms I36, I36 for the point bar I25.

' The needle traversing movements of. the guides I65 and I 66 for the fibrous thread T and the elastic thread X respectively and, the jack traversing movements of the slur cock I62 are effected by-the intermittently rotatable and reversible drums I64, I 65 and I66 respectively through draft wires I61, I68 and I69 respectively. 1

In order that the slur .cock' I62 will follow the thread guide I65 for the fibrous thread T at all times, regardless of the direction of the traverse movement thereof, the drums I64 and I66 are mounted on the same shaft- I16 and the hubs HI and I12 of the two drums I 64 and I I66 respectively are provided with shoulders I13 and I14 disposed in the same plane of rotation and spaced apart to leave an opening I15 there- I and thread guide the shoulders I13 and I14 are duplicated on the opposite sides of the hubs.

HI and i172, cii'cumferentially speaking.

The intermittent reverse movements of the drums I66 and I66 are effected hymeason of the shaft I16, to which the drum I64 is rigidly secured, being provided with a pinion gear I16 adapted to be engaged first by .a series of teeth I11 on a disc I13, which is secured to a power driven shaft I13, at one side of the pinion- I16 and then by another set of teeth I86 which are carried by a second disc I BI located at the opposite side of the pinion I16 and secured to the power driven shaft I19. As the shaft I19 rotates continuously in one direction the two sets of teeth I11 and I engaging the teeth of the pinion I16 alternatelyon opposite sides of the pinion will effec rotation of the shaft I10 and the drums ISA-I66 first in the one direction and then in the opposite direction with a period of rest in between.

The needle traversing movements of the thread guide I60 for the elastic thread X are effected in substantially the same manner, i. e. the drum I65 is secured to a shaft I82 which has a gear pinion I83 secured thereto and disposed between a pair of discs I84 and I85 which are respectively provided with sets of teeth I86 and I81 respectively for alternate cooperation with the teeth of the pinion I83 in the same manner as above described.

In the case of the drum I65 the discs I84 and I85 are not secured directly to the drive shaft I19 but are secured to a sleeve I88 which is loosely mounted on the shaft and provided with one section I89 of a flanged coupling I90 the second half I9I of which is secured to the shaft I19. The two flanges I89-I9I of the coupling I90 are arranged to be'coupled or uncoupled by a' spring pressed plunger I92 carried by the coupling part I9I and projecting into the coupling half I89. This means of coupling the discs I84-I85 to the shaft I19 or disconnecting the said discs from said shaft is provided in order that the laying of the elastic thread may be interrupted when desired and courses of stitches formed in which no rubber is present, such for example as in forming a plain strip in between the edges of two adjacent border strips for separating the border strips one from another and to permit of the borders being hemmed to prevent ravelling of the swatches when the fabric pieces are out apart.

In order to shift the cam shaft 60' to throw the body stitch forming cams out of action and the border stitch forming cams into action and vice versa the cam shaft 60 is circumferentially grooved at one endas indicated at I95 in Figure 2. Extending into the groove I95 is a pair of oppositely disposed fingers I96 which are carried by a lever I91. The shift lever I91 is pivotally mounted at I98 to a fixed part of the machine and is provided with a detent I99'operable in a ratchet segment 200 which is also secured to the frame of the machine whereby, by releasing the detent I99 through the hand grip control 20I, the shift lever I91 may be rocked about its pivot causing the fingers I96 operating in the groove I 95 to slide the cam shaft 60 in its bearings in either direction. Release of the control 20I effectively locks the shaft 60 against accidental axial movement.

Power is applied to the cam shaft 60 and to the drive shaft I18 from a motor or other prime machine and operatively connected through a pulley or sprocket 206 and belt or chain 201 to a pulley or sprocket 208 which is secured to a transversely extending jack shaft 209.

The jack shaft 209 is rotatably mounted in bearings 2I0 formed on a bracket or brackets 2I I- secured to or forming part of a bracket 2I2 which is secured to the frame of the machine.

Secured to the jack shaft 2 is a worm 2I3 which meshes with a worm wheel 2 I l splined to the cam shaft 60. On the hub 2I5 of the worm wheel 2 is a spur gear 2I6 which meshes with a second spur gear 2" which is secured to the drive shaft I19.

The bracket 2I2 is provided with a projection 2I8 which extends into a circumferential groove 2I9 in the hub 2I5 of the worm and spur wheel 2I4--2I6 so that when the cam shaft 60 is shogged axially operative relation between the several gears will not have been affected.

The jack shaft 209 is provided with a hand wheel 220 by which the machine may be turned over manually when starting up a new strip of fabric after a .press-off" or when making adjustments in the operating parts of the machine.

The shoulder 54 on the sinker frame is adapted to engage the hook 55 on the main frame to prevent the sinker frame from rising into engagement with the top stops 52' during one portion of the cycle of operations of the sinkers while the fibrous thread is being laid to the needles but in that portion of the cycle in which the elastic thread is being laid to the needles it is necessary to get the front nibs of the sinkers out of the path of traverse of the guide I60 for the elastic thread X which follows substantially the same path of movement as the thread guide I05 for the fibrous thread T but which in view of the'heavier weight of the elastic thread requires'greater clearance at the sinkers therefor at such time the sinker frame is rocked outthe knitting machine will be caused to cooperate one with the other in a series of interdependent.

movements to produce a continuous strip of fabric without attention of the operator except at times when it is desired to change from the body stitch operations of the machine to the border stitch movements of the machine-at which time the operator merely shifts the cam shaft 60, or at times when plain fabric without elastic is to be formed when the operator merely releases the drum I65 to effect stopping of the elastic thread carrier I60, by pulling the plunger I92, all other operations of the machine-being entirely automatic and continuous as long as power is applied to the jack shaft of the machine.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. The combination of a permanently fixed bank of needles, power driven means for laying a knitting thread to said needles, power operated means for sinking said thread around said needles, aseries of cover points aligned with predetermined needles respectively, power driven ,means for operating said points to lift hanging stitches from the aligned needles, power driven means for laying an inlay thread to said needles during the holding of said lifted stitches on said points, power driven means for operating the sinkers relative to the needles to force hanging stitches from the needles not aligned with cover points, said point operating means being subsequently operated to return the lifted stitches to 15" the needles aligned therewith, power driven means for shogging the cover points laterally a predetermined distance, meanslimiting the lateral movement of said points to align the points accurately with another group of needles, and means resiliently compensating for the difierence between the motion of the shogging means and the lateral movement of the points.

2. The combination of a permanently fixed bank of needles, a series of jack sinkers, levers respectively supporting said jack sinkers, a series of dividing sinkers, a frame supporting the dividing sinkers and affording guides for the jack sinkers, a presser blade, cover points, a cam shaft, a pair of cams on said shaft for actuating said sinker frame longitudinally of the sinkers, a pair of cams on said shaft for rocking said sinker frame, a pair of cams on said shaft for actuating the cover points longitudinally, a pair of cams on said shaft forv rocking said points, a pair of cams on said shaft for actuating said presser blade, and means for rotating said shaft under power to effect cooperative knitting action of said cam actuated elements relative to said needles, apair of thread guides for laying different threads respectively to said needles, a slur cock for operating said jack sinkers to press one necting the drum driving and reversing means with said cam shaft for effecting cooperative action between the sinkers, thread guides, cover points and presser blade.

3. A. knitting machine comprising a permanently fixed bank of needles, a series of sinkers, a presser, a series of cover points aligned with alternate needles, means for chogging the cover points into alignment with the intermediate needles, power driven means for feeding the I thread including an inlay thread to the needles, and means to cooperatively move the sinkers, the presser and the points to incorporate the inlay thread by tuck stitches, and means resiliently compensating the difierence betweenseries of cover points aligned with alternate needles, means for shagging the cover points into alignment with the intermediate needles, power driven means for feeding the thread including an inlay thread to the needles, and means to cooperatively move the sinkers, the presser and the points to incorporate the inlay thread by tuck stitches, and means resiliently compensating the difference between the motion of shagging means and the lateral movement of the points, and means for releasing said sinkers from its limiting means preparatory to laying certain of the threads to said needles. I

5. A knitting machine comprising a permanently fixed bank of needles, a series of sinkers, a presser, a series of cover points aligned with alternate needles, means for shogging the cover points into alignment with the intermediate needles, power driven means for feeding the thread, including an inlay thread, to the needles, and power driven means to cooperatively move the sinkers, the presser, and the points, both power driven means being periodically interassociated and cooperative so that the periodicities of operation of both power driven means may be at such intervals as may insure unison of timed movement between the feeding of said thread and the inlay thread and the movement of the sinkers, the presser, and the points, whereby the inlay thread, may by tuck stitches, be incorporated. I

NEWBY 0. BRANTLY. 

